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markyboy.1967

markyboy.1967

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Mark Molloy
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Looking for advice. My outside tap has no water going to it. I have taken the tap body off leaving the backing plate but no water comes out with the tap off. Under my kitchen sink is a red circular valve which I have adjusted to in the middle between open and closed( can’t see the on or off so in middle suited.lol). Tap on or off doesn’t make a difference if I have it removed or not. I get loads of water to my kitchen sink etc so I know water is on at that part. Any ideas? I heated the pipe work in case it was frozen but it wasn’t in case people think that was an option.
 
Have you tried moving the valve with the tap body off?

Did it work ok before?
 
Tap body still off along with the backing plate. No water filling the pipe going from the wall to the backing plate. The red handle under sink moves feely from open to close but still no water from the outside tap.

it worked fine a few weeks ago. Since then i fitted new parts to my kitchen taps as they were leaking. I turned the water off to fit the parts but since then the inside water has been fine and working as it should.
 
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Is it one of these, because the plastic levers can spin without actually opening the water supply.

www.bes.co.uk

BES.co.uk | Next Day Delivery On 15,000 + Plumbing Supplies

Order Isolating, Flow Control & Service / Lever Operated Isolating Valve - plus Gas and Plumbing Supplies online at BES.co.uk. Low Prices, Free Next Day Delivery Available, 15k Plus Products in stock P/N: 10477
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Or is it one of these, which are of a better construction.

www.screwfix.com

Lever Ball Valve Red 15mm - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Brass, steel and plastic construction. Full bore. ¼ turn operation. Suitable for water systems only. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.
www.screwfix.com www.screwfix.com
 
markyboy.1967 said:
This seems to be the valve in the pipe going outside.
Click to expand...
This type sometimes gets stuck in open or closed positions.
Try hitting it with a hammer! in both positions and then try it again.
Honestly, it sometimes works :)
Just don't hit it too hard.
They can be taken apart to fix them. You remove the screw holding the red handle on and then use a spanner toremove the working! bit.
Remember to turn off your mains water or you'll have a flood if you decide to take it apart.
It's also easy to change the whole part. No need to remove the olives. Just slot the new one in and use the existing nuts and olives.
 
Cheers, cant see any other reason. This valve is on a T piece of pipe going to the cold water and that is fine. I think i will slacken off the side going outwards to see if any water comes out, if not i will shut off water and remove the valve tomorrow and just replace it.
 
markyboy.1967 said:
Cheers, cant see any other reason. This valve is on a T piece of pipe going to the cold water and that is fine. I think i will slacken off the side going outwards to see if any water comes out, if not i will shut off water and remove the valve tomorrow and just replace it.
Click to expand...
Probably best. They don't cost a lot.
Standard 15mm.
They get stuck quite often as they are not used very often.
I normally open them as far as they can go and then close a quarter turn so that you have the option of turning them both ways.
 
If you are handy you can take the valve apart and release the plate, but as previously stated they are quite reasonable to buy anyway and it'll be easier to simply cahnge it. You can use the existing nuts and olives just wrap a few winds of ptfe tape around the olive when the valve is out ,making sure you completely wrap the olive,alternatively buy a pot of 'plumbers mate' and use that instead of ptfe.
 
I have plenty if plumber tape in the garage. Will pick up a valve tomorrow. I take it they will come with the same thread pitch for me to use the existing nuts and olives. Does it matter if its a stainless one rather than the brass( im thinking of the brass nuts on the steel valve)
 
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Check that the screw holding the red wheel is tight. Sometimes the screw is loose, and although the wheel is turning, it's not actually moving the valve...if you buy a new valve, the existing nuts and olives should be ok. You shouldn't need to wrap ptfe tape around the olives.
 
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I don't see much point in getting a stainless steel one, more expensive and gets gummed up the same way.
It's more than likely lime scale that's gummed it up.
All 15mm plumbing nuts are the same thread pitch.
 
Are you sure it's stainless steel rather than chromed brass? Stainless ones are about 4-5 times the price of brass.
 
It's called a gate valve, and has likely jammed shut as suggested. Just replace like for like.
 
Yep, probably chromed brass.
There must be a Screwfix/B&Q/Wickes/Wolsley/Plumbcentre near you...
First 3 will be open on Sunday.
 
it is a gate valve and shouldn’t be used on mains.... if the jumper is loose the water pressure will prevent it from opening. Turn your mains off, take the gate valve off and replace with stopcock or lever ball valve.. whichever is the closet fit.
 
Yep what he said, gate valves are for low pressure applications rather than mains pressure.
 
Already bought another gate valve before seeing the last few replies. Fitted and working fine. Old valve was stuck closed, some disassembly and a clean and thats working as well. Any issues i will replace with a different type of valve as suggested. Many thanks to all those who helped and commented.
 
I was told garden taps need a check valve as well as well as a stop valve.
Can anyone confirm that?
 
Pretty sure you're right, Tori. Can be built in to the outside tap or anywhere along the line between that and the main.

Page 5
 
When we had some plumbing done a few years back it included a new outside tap. The plumber indeed fitted one specific for the job with I understand a valve inside it to stop backflow(suction?). Visually you cannot readily tell the difference!
 
Outside taps can be bought with a 'built in' check valve and must be fitted to pottable water to comply with water regs.

Box Brownie said:
When we had some plumbing done a few years back it included a new outside tap. The plumber indeed fitted one specific for the job with I understand a valve inside it to stop backflow(suction?). Visually you cannot readily tell the difference!
Click to expand...

there will be what looks like a small nut under the thread where it would attach to a backplate.
 
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